In Bathinda, Army fatigues are sold for a bargain

Bathinda: Shopkeepers in the vicinityof Bathinda Catonment continue to sell Army uniforms without any check on the person they are selling them to, a reality check by The Times of Indian has revealed.
The illegal practice holds precdence against the backdrop of the terrorist attack in Pathankot in which the attackers were wearing army uniforms. A number of shops at Bibiwala roundabout near Bathinda Cantonment sell a complete set of army outfit between Rs 800 and 1000.Unstitched cloth to prepare army outfit is also available and the shopkeepers don't bother mych to verify the antecedents of customer.
Thjough some of the shopkeepers have obtained permits to deal in Army unfiorms, sources said no heed is being given to check whether the shopkeepers are selling the dresses only to authorized defense personnel or anybody can purchase them. A decoy customer on Sunday afternoon approached shopkeepers to purchase an Army outfit. A shopkeeper happily agreed to show the army outfit and even was ready to sell it for Rs 800 without asking about the credentials of the purchaser. However, two other shopkeepers got suspicious and declined to show the outfits.
Nearly half a dozen shops are selling Army outfits near the roundabout. Armymen regularly visit the area. While the trousers and shirt with 'Indian Army' logo on the shirt are available for Rs 400 each, a cap with Indian Army written on it is available for Rs. 50. When contacted, Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) Swapan Sharma said the issue was under the domain of civil administration. "Police will check that no shopkeeper sells the Army outfits illegally," he said.
Bathinda DC Basant Garg said selling Army fatigues without permission was illegal. "The administration has clamped orders u/s 144 of CrPC against selling and purchase of Army fatigues by unauthorised persons. I am writing to police to check this," he said.